Discover Portugal is fully reader-supported. For that reason, this article contains some affiliate links. I may earn a small commission when you purchase through links on this page at no additional cost to you. All revenue is used to keep this website free and updated. I only recommend products or services that I would use myself. You’ll be able to read the full disclaimer here. Thanks for your support!
Discover the benefits of Lisbon´s hop-on-hop-off buses
A quick overview
What to see? The easiest way to discover Lisbon
Costs? From € 21,00 per person
Where? Lisbon
Worth it? If you don’t have much time and wish to visit all Lisbon sights with ease, then absolutely!
The hop-on-hop-off buses in Lisbon
It might be the most touristy way to explore a city, but if your time in Lisbon is limited, the hop-on-hop-off bus tours are incredibly convenient! There are three companies to choose from, which are the Lisbon Sightseeing – Gray Line (red bus), City Sightseeing (red bus) and the Yellow Bus (bright yellow!). They offer different routes but with a lot of similarities. So depending on what you want to see, you can pick the hop-on-hop-off bus in Lisbon that is right for you.
Advantages and disadvantages
Let´s then look at some of the benefits and disadvantages of hop-on-hop-off buses in Lisbon.
Benefits
- A convenient way to explore the city
- Good value for money
- Buses drive regularly
- It brings you to all the major sights in Lisbon
- Valid for 24 hours
- Free Wifi on board
- Discounts for many attractions, restaurants and shops
Drawbacks
- Mass tourism at its finest
- Buses can be crowded in the high season
- Buses don’t drive to hidden gems
- Many up-sales
- The commentary on the busses isn’t great
The routes of the hop-on-hop-off buses in Lisbon
Each bus has a choice of routes such as; Belém and Oriente, Belém and Castle, Belém and Cascais, 1 Line + 1 Boat etc. Depending on the route you choose, the buses stop at all main attractions such as Mercado da Ribeira (Time Out Market), Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, Torre de Belém, Marquês de Pombal Square, Museu do Azulejo, Cais do Sodré, and Portas do Sol.
The bus to Cascais will take you along the coast, and it stops in places like Estoril, Belém, Guincho, and Boca do Inferno. The audio tours are in different languages, such as English, German, Spanish, Dutch, Japanese, and Chinese.
Tip: bring your own headphones for quality and hygiene!
Prices
Most buses offer a 24 or 48-hour ticket, and the price starts at € 21,00. This is fantastic value considering the number of sights you’ll drive to and compared to other cities! It’s more expensive than public transport, but if you want to visit the Santa Justa Elevator and ride Tram 28, it’s well worth getting a hop-on-hop-off ticket. These attractions charge a higher fee than a regular public transport ticket.
Children under six can enter the buses for free, and older children pay a discounted price.
Extra options and times
The hop-on-hop-off tickets come with many add-ons. The tram tour, for example, is delightful as it is less busy than Tram 28 and dedicated to tourism. You can extend the route to Cascais, add a tram tour, or a boat tour.
The buses run every 25 minutes between 9 am and 7 pm in the summer. The times are slightly different in the winter, and they run between 9:30 am and 5 pm.
Get your tickets today!
Yellow Bus
Lisbon Sightseeing - Gray Line
Yellow Bus +
Boat Tour
Hop-on-hop-off including Tram Tour
Hop-on-hop-off bus or Lisboa Card?
Another popular option to discover Lisbon is the Lisboa Card. If you´re in the city for a very short time, the hop-on-hop-off bus will give you much value for money for one or two days. You´ll be driven everywhere, and getting around Lisbon is super easy.
If you want more freedom, a heap of discounts, and if you have a bit more time, the Lisboa Card might be a better value. With the Lisboa Card, you can travel free with public transport (but not with the hop-on-hop-off bus). In addition, you also get discounts for many sights, tours, attractions, and restaurants. For example, you can visit the azulejo tile museum, the coach museum, the Jerónimos Monastery, Torre de Belém, Lisboa Story Centre, and Elevador de Santa Justa entirely for free! So if you plan on visiting any of these sights, the Lisboa Card will give you more value that day.
Conclusion
The hop-on-hop-off buses are fantastic for discovering Lisbon. Especially if you´re short of time, taking these buses will quickly get you from point A to B! Would you use the hop-on-hop-off buses in Lisbon? Will you use the hop-on-hop-off bus in Lisbon, or do you prefer to use the public transport system in Lisbon? Let me know your favourite way in the comments!
Buy me a Coffee
7 Responses
The bus tours do look like a great way to see Lisbon if you want to see the tourist sites. I’m more of a get off the beaten path person so not sure I’d love it but maybe for a day!
I love discovering a city on foot, but a hop on hop off bus can be practical if you don’t have a lot of time for exploring or if you can’t walk that far, but still want to explore.
They are a great way to see the city as well when you are feeling a little jetlagged or tired from non-stop sightseeing by foot.
I love hop on hop off buses. They are such a great introduction to a new city. I haven’t done the Lisbon bus – but am sure I will when I get there.
Hop on hop off buses get a lot of hate but I really think they are a great introduction to a new city, especially for those who can’t walk too far or only have a short amount of time! Will definitely look at trying one when I finally get to experience Lisbon!
Thanks for sharing a detailed guide on using the hop-on, hop-off buses in Lisbon. It seems like the perfect way to get around. I’ll keep this article in mind for our trip there!
I LOVE hop-on hop-off buses! They are really considered to be quite “touristy”, but I find that when I arrive at a new destination, it is simply a great way to get to know the place better super fast! Great info on the Lisbon card as well, such a great city – so much to do! That was really helpful!